https://www.androidpolice.com All the latest mobile tech news, deals, reviews, guides, editorials, and more. True Android fans come to Android Police! Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:30:19 GMT en-US hourly 60 We can easily list a ton of reasons why the Google Pixel 6a won AP's best budget phone award in 2022. There are so many of them! While its price is one important factor, what helps it stand out among the best budget Android phones is its superb software and camera experience. There's simply no other smartphone in its price range that can claim to take better photos than the Pixel 6a or provide day-one Android updates.

]]> Mon, 17 Jul 2023 08:53:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-6a-features-we-love-and-hate/ The Galaxy S22+ might not claim the crown as Samsung’s ultimate smartphone, but it holds a special place in the hearts of many. With a modest range of features, desirable specs, and a captivating design, it’s hard not to fall in love with this phone the very moment it touches your palm. And once you set eyes on its breathtaking display, adorned with sleek, uniform bezels, you’ll surely want to protect it from all harm.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 20:00:21 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-samsung-galaxy-s22-plus-screen-protectors/ Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 and Watch 5 Pro are two of the best smartwatches on the market. As good as the watches are, the included straps tend to draw mixed reactions from users. Whether it’s the tuck against your wrist you dislike, or you’re looking for a band that better fits your style, there are plenty of options to choose from.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 18:00:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-galaxy-watch-5-bands/ Among the myriad benefits of owning a Pixel smartphone is access to exclusive features like At a Glance — Google's dedicated lock screen and home screen widget — offering quick access to information on local weather, package deliveries, doorbells, upcoming events, and several other metrics. In its current form on Android 13, the At a Glance home screen widget provides swipeable pages when there is more than one alert pending in the stack. But users are unable to do so with the Always On Display (AOD) enabled or from the lock screen. But that seems to be changing now, at least with Android 14 Beta 4, with the At a Glance lock screen widget gaining swipeable cards, denoted with dots when there's more than one alert pending.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:30:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/android-14-beta-4-at-a-glance-lock-screen-pages/ We've seen a lot of excellent smartphones hit store shelves in 2023, but one particular bright spot this year has been battery life. A quick look at recent flagship and budget flagships reveals that many of our favorite products — especially those powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 or 8+ Gen 1 — are reaching multi-day battery life without breaking a sweat. Throw in fast-charging on phones from OnePlus or Motorola, and how — and when — you power up your device can really change.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:19:10 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/weekend-poll-when-do-you-charge-your-smartphone/ Google's Pixel 7a is the company's latest midrange A-series phone, boasting specs that put it even closer to the flagship Pixel 7. This makes it a fantastic pick for those who want nearly everything a Pixel phone offers without the higher price tag. In fact, it's among the best budget Android phones you can buy right now, edged out slightly by its predecessor, the Pixel 6a, only due to the much lower price of the older model.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 14:01:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-google-pixel-7a-heavy-duty-cases/ Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro reign supreme as two of the best Android smartwatches for a number of reasons. Both introduce sleek new designs and features compared to the Galaxy Watch 4, but these upgrades come with a bump in price — with the premium Galaxy Watch 5 Pro clocking in at $450 and the standard Galaxy Watch 5 at $280, they can be quite an investment. If you're hoping to avoid paying full price for one of these stellar smartwatches, however, we've got some of the best Galaxy Watch 5 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro deals right here.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/where-to-buy-the-samsung-galaxy-watch-5/ While the Galaxy S22, with its somewhat bizarre Bridgerton-themed unveiling may have gotten most of the attention during February’s Unpacked event, Samsung’s new trio of bigger-than-ever tablets were arguably the most interesting of the new products launched by the Korean manufacturer.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 12:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-s8-vs-tab-s8-plus-vs-tab-s8-ultra/ Most people with Android phones get all their apps from Google Play, but Google’s app store is not the only repository of Android apps. There are a handful of great alternatives to Google Play, such as APKMirror (run by Android Police founder Artem Russakovskii). While downloading Android apps from outside Google Play is easy thanks to sites like APKMirror, there is a greater risk of things going wrong. If you choose the wrong APK, for instance, you could unintentionally install the wrong version of an app for your device, or an update that removes some functionality. That’s why, in Android 14, the OS will warn you when you try to sideload an update to a core Google app.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 11:42:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/android-14-update-ownership-warning-play-services/ When it comes to budget smartphones, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2023) offers one of the best experiences possible. This Android gem truly prevails with remarkable improvements over its predecessor, the Moto G Stylus 5G (2022). It offers very decent performance, and considering how affordable it is, every owner will surely be pleased.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 10:30:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-moto-g-stylus-5g-2023-cases/ Although Yahoo isn't as popular as Gmail or Outlook, many still use the company's service to exchange personal and business emails. Yahoo pales compared to Gmail and Outlook's AI features, integration with company apps, and other add-ons. Many have moved away from Yahoo due to security concerns, a lack of useful features, and growing ads on the platform. If you plan to move on from Yahoo, export your important emails on the desktop.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 10:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/export-yahoo-emails-how-to/ Whether you're looking for a challenge or something chill to while away the days, puzzle games are often a go-to on mobile thanks to their simple designs and controls. This means you won't need a beast of a gaming phone to play most puzzle games, which keeps the genre accessible to all. From hardcore brain melters like Bab is You to titles built to relieve stress like Cessabit, there are tons of quality options out there, and AP has put in the work to dig up the very best Android games so you don't have to. Enjoy!

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 10:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-puzzle-games-android/ Smartphones are personal objects. We carry them around all day and use them to manage the minutiae of our lives via calendars, contacts, and social media. Even if you buy a new phone every year, you at least arrange your apps or use a unique background, but why stop there? Why not change the font as well?

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 08:51:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/change-font-android-phone/ All Android phones come with the Google app and Google Assistant preinstalled. Ideally, that should be enough for your digital assistant needs, especially considering that the Big G's solution is one of the best around. However, budget and high-end Samsung Galaxy phones come with Bixby — bundled with One UI — on top of Google's defaults.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 07:57:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/how-to-disable-bixby-samsung-galaxy-phone-tablet/ The Paranoid Android team began working on the Android 13 version of their ROM shortly after the release of the OS in August 2022. Within a few months, they dropped the first beta build for several phones, including the OnePlus 9 series. This gave users a decent OxygenOS 13 alternative to try on their phones. But since the ROM was in beta, it was filled with bugs and issues. Now, nine months after the first Paranoid Android beta was released, the ROM has gone stable for OnePlus' 2021 flagship phones.

]]> Sun, 16 Jul 2023 04:16:14 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/first-stable-paranoid-android-topaz-build-oneplus-9-series/ While the OnePlus Nord N30's performance holds its own with the best budget Android devices of 2023, its build quality leaves a lot to be desired. Unlike other phones with plastic frames and backs, the Nord N30 needs a case to keep it in good condition. Even putting a Nord N30 in the same room as car keys will pick up micro scratches, and fingerprints and smudges display prominently on its glossy charcoal plastic back. Although this isn't the case selection you'd get from a flagship, there are still some excellent, affordable choices to help protect your N30.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 20:01:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-oneplus-nord-n30-cases/ Although the Amazon Fire TV brand is primarily associated with the company's media streaming devices, a fairly decent selection of TVs use the Fire TV as their operating system. After all, it's easy to use, offers access to all popular streaming apps, and has Alexa digital assistant for voice control. The Fire TVs are available from several manufacturers, including Amazon itself. The e-commerce giant joined the likes of Insignia, Pioneer, and Toshiba in 2021 to introduce its first Fire TVs.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 18:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-amazon-fire-tvs/ Although cloud storage services and wireless local data transfers have reduced some of the reliance on flash drives, they are still going strong. This is because USB flash drives (aka thumb drives, memory sticks, or pen drives) provide one of the most painless ways of transferring or backing up data.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 14:00:21 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-usb-c-flash-drives/ A video doorbell is a simple tool in itself, but when paired with robust software, it can prove critical for your home's safety. Amazon-owned Ring has nailed that combination, which is precisely why the Ring Video Doorbell 4 and the Video Doorbell Pro 2 are so well-received in their class. The two smart doorbells share the same DNA and offer feature parity on many fronts, coming from the same brand. But their fundamental approach is quite different, which could make or break the deal for you.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 12:00:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/ring-video-doorbell-4-vs-ring-video-doorbell-pro-2/ Google Pixel phones are special, and even without the kind of access they get to the latest Android software, there's a lot to be impressed about what they're capable of doing. Still, they're not for everyone, and a serious shopper will want to go in eyes-open about some of their bigger limitations.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:53:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-long-term-impressions/ Many of our favorite Android games offer controller support, letting you bypass finicky touchscreen controls with the reliability of physical joysticks and triggers. However, while there are many fantastic Android-compatible controllers available, you may want to use a controller you already have.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 11:43:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/connect-playstation-4-controller-android/ The Google Chrome pop-up blocker is useful for blocking annoying ads. But sometimes, it can be the problem instead of the solution. Some websites use redirects or pop-up windows to start a download and display verification checks, among other functionality. Your browser may flag them as intrusive ads because it's a default setting, but you can turn it off in the settings menu. However, you'll lose control of how ads and redirects appear on your screen.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:53:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/disable-google-chrome-pop-up-blocker/ If you received a book recommendation along with the helpful tip that "it's on Kindle Unlimited," you might be intrigued to find out more. In short, it's an e-book subscription service from Amazon that launched in 2014. You can access a massive library of digital books, audiobooks, comics, and magazines for a monthly fee.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:37:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/kindle-unlimited-guide/ Generative AI has taken the world by storm. While Google has been a few steps behind the competition, it's coming to the fray like a charging elephant. During its Google I/O 2023 event, Google displayed the Duet AI for Google Workspace feature that integrates with all Google Workspace apps, including Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Gmail, and helps people become more productive. If you have been out of the loop, let us explain Duet AI for Google Workspace and why it's a big deal. So, put in your wireless earbuds, play your favorite music, and let's get started.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:33:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-workspace-duet-ai-guide/ Acer has produced an excellent Chromebook in the Spin 714, loaded with enough features and build quality to elevate it to one of the best Chromebooks available. It's versatile and relatively powerful compared to similar hardware, and a series of price reductions and frequent sales have significantly increased its appeal. With a lengthy list of features that make it a well-rounded multipurpose device, it's natural to wonder if, like other Acer Chromebooks, it also supports communication over 4G LTE or other standards via a SIM slot, which is how Acer's Chromebooks support mobile communication.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:30:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/acer-chromebook-spin-714-lte/ An IMEI or International Mobile Equipment Identity number is a 15-digit unique number assigned to mobile phones and smartphones that run on the GSM network. When you purchase an Android smartphone, such as one of the Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phones, you'll notice that the original packaging has a white sticker detailing its IMEI number. You can also find this number in the phone's software using several methods. In this guide, we explain what an IMEI number is, why it is important, and how you can find it for your phone.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:05:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/imei-phone-device-guide/ Voicemails came from the earlier days of landlines and answering machines but are helpful for smartphones. Because you may not always be around to take a call when you receive it, having someone leave a recorded message to view later is beneficial. Even the best budget Android phones give you access to all the voicemail features you'll need. You can use various methods to check and manage your voicemails after you create your dedicated voicemail number. In this guide, we go over how you can access the voicemail feature on your Verizon Wireless smartphone.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:03:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/set-up-access-verizon-voicemail/ Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis is one of our most anticipated Android games in 2023 and is in strong contention to be a hit on your favorite Android gaming phone. Lucky for you, we were able to get a closer look at Ever Crisis during the first closed beta test, so we've created a guide outlining how the battling works, the various growth and enhancement systems, and how exactly the gacha mechanics impact accounts.

]]> Sat, 15 Jul 2023 10:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/final-fantasy-vii-ever-crisis-guide/ Streaming services have taken over as one of the best ways to catch the latest movies. Whether they're making a stop in theaters before rolling out digital rentals or they launch as first-run originals from the likes of Netflix, Apple TV, or HBO; we're rounding up the best titles so you're not left in the dark — until it's time to start the film, that is. Check back each week (usually on Friday) to see the latest additions for movies that are now available to stream, the latest theatrical releases, and movies coming next week.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 22:13:40 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/new-movies-home-premieres-early-rental-streaming/ In its early days, WhatsApp started as a messaging platform for individuals, and later expanded to facilitate group chats, quickly rising to become one of the hottest encrypted messaging apps on the scene. Rival apps like Telegram which were built around group chats have inspired most of WhatsApp’s changes of late. The Meta-owned chat app has been experimenting with different ways to show participant avatars in group chats, especially if they don’t have a profile picture uploaded. Now, we are seeing the company try another approach in this ongoing experiment.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 21:35:25 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-testing-group-chat-user-avatar-icons/ Google Chat is a great communication tool, but it has had a major flaw in regard to sharing links. Without being able to hyperlink a word, users have had to type out the entire URL or copy-paste it. It can really clutter a chat, making an unprofessional atmosphere, especially if it's a longer URL. Finally, Google has implemented a new feature that many chat systems — from Discord to Slack — have by default, the ability to hyperlink words in your messages.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 21:14:52 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-chat-hyperlinks/ Android’s work profile makes it possible to separate your personal and work life on a single device, and Google’s done a lot to make the work profile feel as integrated as possible. For example, when you have a work profile enabled, the Android launcher adds a separate tab (shown above) that contains all your work apps. In Google’s own apps, you can easily switch between your personal and work profiles by tapping your avatar and then selecting a button in the pop-up dialog. Now, Google’s making it even easier to switch between your profiles.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:19:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-work-profile-gesture-switcher/ In the dynamic world of music streaming services, other platforms are often judged against the long-established standard set by Spotify. Spotify had a 30% market share in 2022, leaving rivals Apple Music and YouTube Music in the dust with 15% and 9%, respectively. The battle is still far from finished, though, as YouTube Music keeps working to close the gap and provide users with a more complete media platform.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:16:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/youtube-music-podcast-support-goes-international/ The Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are likely to be two of the best Android phones of 2023, but we've yet to hear any official news directly from the company on their existence. Leaks and rumors suggest we'll be seeing both phones appear in the second half of 2023. While we did expect to see a teaser of them at Google I/O 2023 alongside the reveal of the Pixel 7a, Pixel Fold, and Pixel Tablet, that didn't happen. The Google Pixel 7 and Google Pixel 7 Pro were first teased at I/O 2022, but unfortunately, these phones remain a mystery — unless you follow the rumormill, that is.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:32:40 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-pixel-8/ While premium tablets with high-end features always seem more attractive, it's often the low-cost option that is the best fit for most people. I'm not immune to the allure of flagship processors and truckloads of RAM, but I'm also honest about my tablet usage. Couch binging does not require a top-of-the-line Snapdragon; you can watch YouTube cooking tutorials with less than 8GB of RAM. The choice between the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 and Lenovo Tab M10 Plus is a decision that needs to be both personal and practical.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 20:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-tab-s8-vs-lenovo-tab-m10-plus/ Technology hasn't advanced quite far enough to give us a tool that magically cleans our homes with just the snap of a finger, but there's something close: robot vacuums. These loyal servants tidy up floors without requiring you to lift a finger and cover places you don't usually see — much less want to be bothered to reach. The best part? You won't hear them complaining. Although it might be you complaining when you learn just how much the really high-quality ones cost, we've got a killer deal to spare you that kind of sticker shock.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 19:16:13 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/roborock-q5-plus-vacuum-post-prime-day-deal/ Emoji are the de facto standard for emoting in conversations (and wallpapers) without using words. Thanks to the Unicode Consortium, the body dedicated to maintaining the international standard for symbols used in conversations, we now have an adequate selection of emoji to pick from. The catalog keeps expanding annually, and this year’s draft with 108 new emoji is now under consideration.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:12:35 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/new-emoji-unicode-15-1-designs/ Motorola’s newest announced Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 model is looking like a solid mid-range Android phone. It’s unclear if it’ll make the list of our favorite Android phones at any point, but it's still a great mid-range option for Android users to check out. If you’re planning on picking up this charming new Motorola device, you’re going to want to make sure you have the right level of protection to keep it looking good for years to come. To help make that easier, we’ll go over some of the best Moto G Stylus 5G 2023 screen protectors to help keep your display looking crystal clear, even if you drop it.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 18:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-moto-g-stylus-5g-2023-screen-protectors/ YouTube Music's most recent update has gotten a lot of heat, mainly because of changes to the mini player that appears when you collapse the Now Playing UI. Users lost the ability to dismiss the mini player through a swipe down gesture — a popular function, as it was the only way to quickly clear the current queue aside from starting a new playlist. Thankfully, another update has provided a solution, but it isn't as convenient as a swipe.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 17:15:10 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/youtube-music-mini-player-workaround/ Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis was revealed during the 2021 State of Play livestream. Now that the game has entered closed beta, we can finally see what Square Enix has been cooking. As a fan that's been playing Final Fantasy for over a decade and a half, starting with Final Fantasy IX (working forward and backward), I've sunk my teeth in every spinoff and sequel to every mainline title since. This also includes Crisis Core on the PSP, Dirge of Cerberus on the PlayStation 2, and reading through fan-translated transcripts of Before Crisis, a Japanese-only mobile game.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:52:28 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/final-fantasy-vii-ever-crisis-hands-on/ The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 26 is going to be one humdinger of a product launch. Normally we're introduced to between two and five devices during a big Samsung launch, but this go around we're rumored to have a whopping seven: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, Galaxy Z Flip 5, Galaxy Watch 6, and Watch 6 Pro/Classic, and the three sizes making up the Galaxy Tab S9 series. That's a lot of lovely new tech to go around, and even if you don't flip for foldables, the Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Tab S9 will be vying for the throne in their respective segments.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 16:30:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-unpacked-reserve-now-july23/ Onyx already makes a bunch of Android-powered tablets that have Amazon Kindle-esque e-ink displays — a few pricier ones even have color variants of those paper-like screens. While we did like those big-screen devices for their use cases, Onyx wants to replicate the same approach for smaller devices as well. The Boox Palma is a pretty unique handset that looks like an e-reader but is powered by Android, making it a far more versatile device than any e-reader.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:17:39 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/boox-palma-e-reader-phone/ The TerraMaster F2-223 is a two-bay NAS that's part of the company's push into 2023 with more advanced internals. Compared to its predecessor, TerraMaster loaded in a new low-power Intel Celeron processor, support for up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, and launched the enclosure with a new version of TerraMaster's NAS operating system.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 15:01:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/terramaster-f2-223-review/ With renewed interest from Google, Android tablets are having a bit of a resurgence. Before, there were limited tablet options; now, other major players have begun entering the category. OnePlus launched the OnePlus Pad in May 2023, and it immediately became one of the best Android Tablets you could get. In June 2023, Google re-entered the fray with its Pixel Tablet, bringing along some unique features. As two of the newest manufacturers to enter the tablet space, it's only fitting to see whose first attempt will better suit your needs.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/oneplus-pad-vs-google-pixel-tablet/ Passwords are hard. Even with password managers to generate and autofill them, they're still a pain to use for all the daily logins in our lives. The problem is that there aren't any great alternatives. However, the Web3 techs at the DFINITY Foundation are working on a promising alternative. It's called II or Internet Identity, and it could reshape our online security. Here's what we know.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 13:57:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/what-is-internet-identity-and-how-does-it-work/ Sure, the security angle of a video doorbell, especially paired with the best smart home security systems, is a huge selling point. We all want to keep our homes safe and secure from robbery and home invasion. However, the home surveillance benefits go beyond security. Whether they are solicitors, salespeople, overeager neighbors, or hungry bears, we all have reasons we'd rather not answer the door.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 12:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-ring-video-doorbell/ Reddit recently caused turmoil when it introduced steep prices for access to its API, effectively killing many excellent third-party Reddit apps out there that augmented the core experience in often significant ways. The company cited its desire to become profitable and cut off GPT scrapers as a reason why it took this step. It previously all but lost money on providing and updating the API. Reddit’s next move then could strike you as odd, as the business has announced that it will discontinue coins and awards, which likely provided the company with a small but steady stream of revenue.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 11:42:46 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/reddit-kills-easiest-revenue-streams-switching-to-paid-api/ At this point, it is no surprise that the first OnePlus foldable phone is around the corner. Renders of the device have leaked, revealing its impressive design. Another report detailed the phone's alleged specs, indicating it will share some internals with the OnePlus 11. A launch timeframe was also rumored, but today's leak provides more concrete details on when the foldable will launch.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:54:25 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/latest-oneplus-open-leaks-further-corroborate-launch-date-rumors/ If you are completely new to AT&T or looking to upgrade your current device, there are plenty of quality options to fit almost any budget. Even though buying an unlocked device is always the best option, smartphone price tags can be staggering. Because of this, AT&T offers carrier financing options that allow you to spread the cost out over time — instead of paying all at once, you pay monthly over 36 months. While this is a nice option, please keep in mind that it keeps you locked to AT&T until all the payments for that phone are made.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:30:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-att-phones/ Texting is one activity most people can't do without. Virtual keyboards make it effortless every day. Google's Gboard is one such keyboard that offers more features besides basic texting capabilities, including language translation and voice typing. When you activate auto-corrections, your keyboard becomes a know-it-all and modifies spellings without asking. You may find this feature annoying if you regularly use slang and shorthand.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:19:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/gboard-personal-dictionary-add-edit-words/ Since Roblox's launch, many gamers have followed and continued to support the legacy this metaverse has left behind. Today, Roblox has become more than just a massive sandbox/simulation game; it reels in a large growing community and brings indispensable resources to get gaming creations out to the world without needing a top-end Android phone.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 10:01:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/roblox-game-platform-guide-explainer/ There are two kinds of Android phone owners out there. We have the kind of people who eagerly take an update to the next Android version as soon as it's available, and then we have the kind that will just ignore the update until it becomes too hard to ignore. There are an awful lot of people in the latter crowd, and if you don't have a friend or relative who does this, then it's probably you. Android's distribution numbers are already bad enough because of uncommitted OEMs, and these people definitely drag the stats even lower. Good news, though — Google is coming up with ways to entice them into updating, and this latest one is looking great.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:27:46 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/phone-sweet-talk-update-latest-android/ Google's in-house VPN, which is a part of its Google One subscription, is a bit different in philosophy to other VPNs. While most other VPNs allow you to transport yourself to any part of the world you want, Google's own VPN doesn't believe in that. There's no country or region selector, and instead, you just fire it up and get to browsing again. It's meant to shield yourself and your IP address online, and it's probably the most solid option if you don't really need to hop around countries for any reason. And if you've ever wondered whether this would change, it will not — in fact, the servers you'll connect to are now getting even closer to you.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:11:56 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-one-vpn-local-servers/ Tech is an ever-evolving sector, and there continues to be more and more jobs available. You could get a college degree in a relevant field or obtain a Google Career Certificate. These certificates provide you with the skills you need to earn a job in several high-demand areas, such as data analytics, IT support, and project management. These certificates are accessible online on any device, such as the best Chromebooks, and don't have any prerequisites to enroll, such as a college degree or relevant experience. This article takes a closer look at the Google Career Certificate program, associated costs, and common questions prospective students may have.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:05:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-career-certificate-guide/ Throughout the day, we download several photos, videos, and other files on our Android smartphones. While Android does a great job of showing us the file when it finishes downloading, it's hard to find them later if you don't know how to locate downloads on your Android device. Also, while you might want to keep some of the downloaded files for the long term, you should delete most downloads when you no longer need them. But you can't do that if you don't know where Android saves these downloads.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 09:01:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/find-downloads-android-phone-tablet/ Wi-Fi is a basic part of our lives at this point, but back in the 90s, it was a groundbreaking concept. Internet without wires? The thought of connecting your computer to the World Wide Web without hooking it up to a modem was surreal until Apple did it with the iBook in 1999 (which in classic Apple fashion it made into a proprietary thing for its devices, called AirPort). By now, though, it's a concept we're all familiar with. That doesn't mean there can't be more innovation, however. Wi-Fi uses radio waves, but what if there was a better way? Li-Fi was just made into a standard, IEEE 802.11bb — and it harnesses the power of light to give you connectivity.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:57:59 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/light-based-wi-fi-official-standard/ iRobot's Roomba vacuum cleaners are some of the most popular vacuums on the market because of their ease of use and reliability. However, they're not perfect, and you may sometimes run into issues. To solve them, you can reset yours to its factory settings and start over, which may help get things back on track. Alternatively, you could do the same if you want to sell your robot vacuum and get an even better one like the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra or Dreame L10s Ultra.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:40:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/roomba-vacuum-factory-reset/ Google announced a major Android Auto redesign at I/O 2022. Codenamed 'Coolwalk,' it revamped Auto's UI for bigger infotainment displays and introduced a split-screen mode, among a barrage of other improvements. Eight months after the initial announcement and two months of beta testing, Google started rolling out the new Android Auto design for everyone at the beginning of 2023. The company has since then been spotted testing minor UI changes, though nothing major has rolled out. Google has now silently released Android Auto v10, with a new UI for Google Assistant.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:30:40 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/android-auto-version-10-has-arrived/ Despite the recent addition of the video downloading feature on Instagram, Meta's other app, Facebook, continues to fall behind. While you can download your video uploads, it doesn't offer a feature to download videos uploaded by other users on your Android device, computer, or top Chromebooks.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:29:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/download-facebook-videos/ With tons of information always accessible through our mobile phones and computers, there's almost no reason to commit so much knowledge to memory. However, YouTube found a way to facilitate actual learning when it unveiled an experimental feature last September that allows creators to create quizzes in the Community tab to gauge how well their viewers understand the educational content they churn out. The quiz feature has subsequently been rolled out in beta since then before presumably hitting the stable channel in March of this year, though only on Android phones. YouTube has now updated its Help Center page to indicate that quizzes have arrived for desktop computers as well.

]]> Fri, 14 Jul 2023 08:26:58 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/youtube-quizzes-coming-to-all-devices/ We may be officially past Amazon Prime Day, but that's not stopping some retailers from dropping late deals that deserve a look. We saw some pretty great Prime Day smart home deals this year, but one of the best yet just dropped to keep the party going. Ecobee offers one of the best smart thermostats on the market right now, but with a standard price tag of $250, it's one of the most expensive options you can go with, aside from the Google Nest Learning Thermostat. However, Ecobee skipped Prime Day altogether and just dropped their Premium smart thermostat down to its best price ever, taking $40 off this top-of-the-line option for a limited time.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:24:40 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/ecobee-premium-thermostat-prime-day-deal/ Twitter has come under fire recently for a lot of reasons (many of them quite fair). Ever since Elon Musk took over the site in 2022, changes have been quick and frequent, resulting in an exodus of sorts from many long-term employees. On the product side, Twitter has faced no shortage of problematic issues, from a nightmare of API changes, to service outages, to complaints of price gouging. One thing that hadn’t been fully addressed since Musk took over was the amount of spam direct message requests that Twitter users had to deal with. Today, Twitter announces a new DM feature in an effort to further combat spam — but it sure feels like it's being used to promote Twitter Blue.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:19:34 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/twitter-blue-direct-message-spam/ While Amazon Prime Day may be officially over and in the books, some deals have been extended to give shoppers a chance to save if they missed out the past two days. If a portable charger is something you were hoping to grab during the sale, one of the best Prime Day power bank deals is still up for grabs, and it's more than worth a look. Anker's 347 40,000mAh 30W power bank is one of the largest power banks you'll find on sale still, making it perfect if you've got multiple devices in need of a quick charge on the go. It's also one of the best values you'll find, since you can still get it for a solid 20% off right now.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:14:26 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/anker-power-bank-deal-amazon/ Modern travel often involves flights where passengers carry devices like smartphones or laptops. These devices have wireless features such as Wi-Fi or GPS that can interfere with the plane's systems. So, airlines often ask passengers to use airplane mode during flight, turning off these features.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 22:07:09 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-patent-airplane-mode-connected/ Prime Day may technically be over, but one of its better TV deals is hanging around. The 75-inch version of Samsung's The Frame is currently still 33% off. We like the set because of its unique, artwork-like design, but anyone looking for an ultra-slim, 4K smart TV will find it appealing. It has a massive QLED display, it's packed full of tech, it comes with its own slim-fit wall mount, and right now, you can get one for just under $2,000.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 21:40:55 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-the-frame-tv-prime-day-deal/ Google seems to have an identity crisis of sorts with its AI-based writing assistant tools Magic Compose, Write for Me, Smart Compose, and Smart Reply. Nonetheless, Magic Compose is the way forward for the Google Messages app. It has been available for RCS conversations for some, but we have recently spotted it in testing for regular texts as well.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 20:48:35 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-messages-magic-compose-sms/ Blockchain apps have been largely prohibited on the Play Store, and Google has long only allowed apps that allow users to remotely manage cryptocurrency, trading, and some other basic functions. However, Google has decided to loosen these restrictions with a policy update that could bring in a whole new genre to the Google Play Store.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 20:13:22 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-play-blockchain-policy-updated/ You don’t have to spend lots of money to get a great pair of wireless earbuds. While some of the best wireless earbuds may be out of reach for many, there are quite a few options that punch far above their weight. For $100 or less (sometimes far less), you can get the ideal pair of earbuds for yourself, even if that includes having one of those premium features like active noise cancellation (ANC).

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 20:00:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-cheap-true-wireless-earbuds/ Google is in the middle of a low-key UI refresh for it apps and services. Going back to last fall, we've been checking out the slow spread of a new interface for switching between multiple Google accounts, one that embraces modern Material You style. This week we're checking out what seems to be the latest app to make the change, as the new account switcher reaches the Fitbit app.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 19:42:08 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/fitbit-account-switcher/ Mobvoi finds itself in an interesting place in the wearables market and routinely finds itself among the best in the business. Look at the best smartwatches for Android, and you'll find at least one of the TicWatch models there. The TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra already made the cut, and it's probably only a matter of time before the newer TicWatch Pro 5 also finds its way there.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 18:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/mobvoi-ticwatch-pro-5-vs-ticwatch-pro-3-ultra-gps/ Smart doorbells have gotten incredibly affordable over the years, dropping from $200+ to well under $100 — that is, unless you are entrenched in the Google ecosystem and are looking for a Nest option. Even the best Prime Day deals couldn't bring the Nest doorbell below the $100 threshold, but luckily, we found a workaround. The original Nest Doorbell, which you might remember as the Nest Hello, has a lot of the same features that the newer models offer, and it's available right now for just $70.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 17:48:56 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-nest-smart-doorbell-deal/ Material You introduced a slew of design changes to how Android looks and feels and added a ton of customization options, too. While dynamic theming was a big part of this facelift that came with Android 12, various Google apps simultaneously picked up new interface elements to go with this major refresh. Google Calendar also followed suit, but its widgets had remained behind the curve for some reason. Not anymore, as Calendar widgets are finally receiving their long overdue Material You facelift.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:56:51 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-calendar-widgets-material-you/ E-waste is a problem as people buy and replace more devices for themselves and their families. Keeping devices for longer is a great way to reduce e-waste, but that can be difficult when your Windows or macOS device feels underpowered and laggy. You could replace it with one of the best Chromebooks, but Google created another way to make your old computer new again. This operating system, called ChromeOS Flex, can help breathe new life into your old device. Let's look at what ChromeOS Flex is, how to use it, and how it compares to normal ChromeOS.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:40:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/chrome-os-flex-what-it-is-and-why-you-should-use-it/ Amazon's Prime Day has officially come to a close, but many great deals are still live. As we were busy curating the savings, it became apparent that Govee had a ton of great products on sale. If you've been checking out our curated list of the best Prime Day smart home deals, you'll notice the name throughout the categories.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 16:14:20 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/govee-prime-day-deals/ Nothing's first phone, aptly named Nothing Phone 1, was available in the UK, Europe, Japan, and India. As a US tech nerd, I was jealous. Competition in the Android space isn't quite as diverse here as it is in the places you can easily buy the Phone 1, and beyond its unique styling, Nothing's inaugural phone was widely praised as a good device at a good price. It felt like we were missing out.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:31:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/nothing-phone-2-review/ If you plan to buy one of the best Samsung phones soon, you may want to safeguard it with a sturdy case and screen protector. While that serves to a great extent, attaining a 100% shield is impossible for the clumsy ones among us. Even if you're not, Samsung Care Plus gives you peace of mind that your pricey phone is protected. While many people skip it due to the extra fees, it's a lifeline if your new Samsung phone suffers damage. It's especially useful for devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, which while practical, has a fragile screen.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:22:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/what-is-samsung-care-plus/ Google Photos comes preinstalled on most Android devices, including phones, tablets, and our favorite budget Chromebooks. It's simple to use and packed with tons of powerful features to manage your photo collection. However, whether you're looking to escape the Google ecosystem or want to try something new, there are plenty of excellent alternatives to Google Photos.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:01:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-google-photo-alternatives/ Just like that, Amazon Prime Day is done. We saw a lot of phone deals over the past two days, with lots of price fluctuations and with deals selling out and restocking several times. The good news is there are still some deals to be had if you're looking to save on your next daily driver. Both top-end premium phones and some great budget and midrange options make up a bulk of the latest and greatest in Android hardware, and companies like Google, Motorola, and OnePlus are still offering deep discounts on all sorts of their hardware. There's no telling how long these sales will last, so don't hesitate to jump on them while the savings are still good.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:55:10 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/amazon-prime-day-phone-deals/ Picking up one of our favorite 5G-compatible phones is a great way to improve your connectivity, but even the best phones can't always maintain a perfect connection. Your location, carrier, or phone plan can affect signal strength, but determining the exact cause can be challenging.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:46:14 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/check-lte-4g-band-signal-strength-android/ Despite being slow to roll out certain features when compared to services like Telegram, WhatsApp continues to be one of the world's most popular instant messaging apps. We often come across under-development features being tested by the Meta-owned chat app courtesy of beta releases. Last week, it was revealed that the company enhancing the discoverability of stickers by linking them to their corresponding emoji. WhatsApp now appears to be working on another visual feature, as per the good folks at WABetaInfo, taking a cue from Apple's popular Memoji feature for iPhones.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:37:42 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/whatsapp-memoji-animated-avatars/ Amazon's Prime Day event has officially come to a close, but as expected there are still plenty of great smart home deals of which you can take advantage. Some of the best smart home gadgets available continue to enjoy a discount. These gadgets can transform regular appliances, speakers, lights, and controls into intelligent devices, but their high costs can often deter some consumers.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:32:16 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/amazon-prime-day-smart-home-deals/ Time has run out on Amazon Prime Day and while we've seen a lot of deals end, there are still some great savings to be had. Currently, some of the top Android smartwatches - such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Google Pixel Watch - are still being sold at discounted prices. Also, a lot of great fitness trackers from Fitbit and Amazon are also still cheaper than normal. Some of the deals aren't quite as good as what we saw during Prime Day, but it's clear that if you're looking to save money on your next wearable piece of tech, you still have time to buy one now. Act fast, though, we don't know how long these deals will last.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:30:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-amazon-prime-day-smartwatch-and-fitness-tracker-deals/ If you have been looking for something to buy and only to realize Prime Day is over, you may have to wait until Black Friday. That isn’t the case because some of the best Prime Day discounts are still strong across multiple product categories. Several products are still in stock and selling at low Prime Day discounted prices. We ran the numbers for you and have collected the best deals, which are still going strong. Don’t miss out on them.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:01:53 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-prime-day-deals-still-going-strong/ Home security systems with no monthly fee deliver many of the benefits of a professional home security system without a contract or cost. Set up and configure the smart security devices supplied, then monitor your home security system yourself, using a dedicated app or a connected alarm to deter intruders. With so many of these smart devices and packages to choose from, it can be difficult to know which security system will be best for your property. To help you, I've rounded up a selection of the best smart home security systems with no monthly fee.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-smart-home-security-system-with-no-monthly-fee/ Amazon Prime Day 2023 has come and gone, and as you'd expect, a lot of deals ended with the event. But not all of them! A lot of great headphones and earbuds are still discounted in the wake of Prime Day. Earbuds from Samsung, Google, Beats, and more are still available at great prices, and you can even get a couple of post-Prime Day deals on high-end headphones from Sennheiser and Bowers & Wilkins. Here are all the best headphone and earbud deals you can still get today.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 14:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/amazon-prime-day-headphone-earbud-deals/ Just because Amazon Prime Day is officially over doesn't mean you still can't find great deals on some of the top tablets. Some of the deals you'll find after Prime Day, may not have discounts that are as deep as they were during the event, but that doesn't mean there still aren't deals worth checking out. In fact, Samsung, Lenovo, and yes, even Apple, still have great deals going on right now, making it easy to save money on your next tablet purchase.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:56:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-amazon-prime-day-tablet-deals/ Amazon's Prime Day has technically come to an end, and many of the great sales we tracked have gone cold. However, a bunch of our favorite Chromebooks are still available at the same discount we saw for the past two days. We always recommend buying during a sale — especially on big-ticket items like Chromebooks — and Prime Day provided plenty of opportunity to pick up a new computer on the cheap. If you missed the event but are still shopping around, you can check this list to see what deals are still live. With Auto Update Expiration (AUE) dates, pricing history, and market norms in mind, we can help you get the perfect deal on a Chromebook even though Prime Day proper has ended.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:35:17 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/amazon-prime-day-chromebook-deals/ Artificial intelligence used to be akin to fantasy—something that we gawked at in sci-fi movies set hundreds of years in the future. Nowadays, we barely blink when confronted with myriad types of AI in our everyday lives: a translator tool helping order lunch in another language while on vacation, a retail chatbot processing a return, robot vacuums mapping our homes, Google maps suggesting an alternative route to avoid traffic from an accident.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:32:22 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/ai-and-privacy-issues-safeguarding-your-data/ Reddit found itself in the middle of a massive controversy following its sudden decision to charge for its API access, which had been available for free all this while. This resulted in widespread outrage as several massive subreddits decided to go dark while many popular Reddit apps like RIF and Apollo were forced to shut shops, leaving only a few clients that survived. But this new open-source app has found a free workaround to deliver your favorite Reddit content, albeit with a few caveats.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 13:20:23 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/geddit-free-reddit-app-for-android/ Tracking sleep is an integral component of modern wearable technology. Fitness trackers have long offered step counters, heart rate metrics, and sleep monitoring features that make analyzing the otherwise-mundane aspects of your day exhilarating and fun. With smartwatches comes an extra wrinkle that builds connectivity and enhanced functionality into the wrist-worn device. Not only are you able to monitor sleep, steps, and other health metrics, many smartwatches are adept at offering push notifications from your phone, placing calls, and playing music.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-smartwatches-sleep-tracking/ Proton is a privacy-first company that promises to take good care of your data. It all started with its email client Proton Mail, but the company has since expanded its portfolio with a VPN, a calendar, one of many excellent password managers out there, and a cloud storage solution. The latter lacked an option to sync local files for a long time, though, which is something the company is now finally fixing for Windows users.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 11:08:42 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/proton-drive-viable-alternative-google-drive/ More and more people have some form of hearing impairment in this increasingly loud day and age. Chances are your hearing also isn't the best if you stumbled upon this guide. You may remember hearing aids as bulky devices sitting behind your ears that are barely good enough to make people hear again, but this is far from the truth today. Most hearing aids support some form of audio streaming. Still, for most of them, you must have a compatible phone.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:36:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/bluetooth-hearing-aid-compatibility-phones-guide/ An entry-level device from a storied manufacturer, the 2022 version of the Moto G Power doesn't exactly wow in terms of specs, but it's a reasonable choice among the various affordable Motorola smartphones. Like most of today's smartphones, it's a bit large and heavy, and most owners will want to protect it with a decent case.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:30:19 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-moto-g-power-2022-cases/ The virtual keyboard is one of the essential parts of your smartphone experience. You rely on it for texting, creating to-do lists, drafting long LinkedIn posts and emails, and editing quick documents in Google Docs. While smartphone keyboards have evolved in recent years with auto-predictions, AI features, a clipboard, and more, you can't escape mistakes and errors while typing on a small keyboard on glass.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:26:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/android-phone-use-secret-trackpad/ Selecting the best Chromebook for your usage is no longer as simple as it used to be, mostly thanks to several hardware brands entering the space. Samsung also wanted a piece of the Chromebook pie and launched the Galaxy Chromebook Go to that effect. As the “Go” branding would lead you to believe, this machine is suitable for low-horsepower tasks like editing documents on the cloud, streaming media, and reading your email.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:15:45 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/samsung-galaxy-chromebook-go-down-to-200/ Google Chrome 115 has been released in early stable on July 12, 2023, with the broader rollout beginning on July 18. The new release is just a tad late, but it makes this up with some choice improvements to the browsing experience, particularly on desktop computers. There are a few new features to dive into, such as the new Reading mode or improvements to the Memory Saver.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:12:15 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/google-chrome-115/ Playing games on your Android phone often lacks the immersion you'll get from bigger screens, but these horror games show you can have a gripping experience without going further than the Play Store. From Paranormasight to Doom, there's a horror game for everyone here.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/best-android-horror-games/ Amazon Prime Day is over, and the two-day deals bonanza is officially finished. Prime Day has expanded far beyond one retailer to encompass the entire e-commerce market as everyone looks for the latest tech, so some deals have continued into July 13.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 10:00:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/amazon-prime-day/ Netherlands-based Fairphone is known for its repair-friendly smartphone lineup, with the company also launching a pair of headphones in May, relying on the same repairability promise. In a world where smartphones reach their end-of-life status quickly, Fairphone's devices, like the Fairphone 3, have been the pleasant exception. The manufacturer had promised five years of software support from when this smartphone was launched in mid-2019. While this meant that software updates would stop in the middle of 2024, the company has now surprised device owners by saying it plans to provide an additional two years of software coverage.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:37:31 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/fairphone-3-2-extra-years-of-software-support/ Mobile photography is generally a simple experience for the user. Just point and shoot. But even the best phones can fail to capture a scene the way you would expect. However, on many Android devices, it's possible to dial in the look of your photos with manual camera settings. Those settings aren't always easy to understand. We compiled this list of common manual camera settings, what they do, and how to use them to get the perfect shot.

]]> Thu, 13 Jul 2023 08:19:18 GMT https://www.androidpolice.com/use-smartphone-camera-manual-settings-guide/